Ben Strum

We share the film ‘The Sunnukiah Project’, we hope it invites a moment of presence, reflection, and light. The film was recorded only days before the terror attack in Bondi on 14 December 2025, which targeted the Australian Jewish community. We considered whether now was the right time to share this film, given all that has happened. We decided that we must. The Sunnukiah was unveiled just thirty minutes before the shooting began. It was installed on a public street corner, five minutes down the road from where the violence unfolded. In that proximity, the work has taken on a meaning none of us could have anticipated. May the might of this structure embody the resilience of the Sydney Jewish community. May it project the values, creativity, and presence of our people. And may the memories of the victims be a blessing. The Sunnukiah is a solar and battery-powered sculptural Chanukiah created by Australian Jewish award-winning artist Joel Adler, commissioned by Waverley Council, and amplified by the Jewish Climate Network. It was not intended as an act of defiance, but one of presence - a statement that Jewish light belongs here, openly and without fear. With gratitude: Artist: @joeljadler Director & Editor: @benstrum Cinematographer: @naffman Photographer: Teresa Tan Commissioned by: @waverleycouncil Producer & Copyright Owner: The Jewish Climate Network (Jewish Ecological Coalition Inc.) We invite you to watch, share, and sit with this film. To learn more about The Sunnukiah, or to visit it, head to .au The JCN Team

🫶 Disability ≠ inability 🫶 How truly special it was to partake in the Focus on Ability Festival with so many dazzling disabled humans. It was the ultimate celebration of life’s many and diverse wonders. Sharing this raw moment on stage with Ben was particularly memorable. Much like autism itself, winning the Judges’ Choice for Best Documentary was completely unexpected. Our acceptance speeches were also fittingly unscripted. Instinctively, we both spoke to the value of neurokinship, broad representation, autistic strengths and unfiltered expression. There is no dress rehearsal for life. There is only the living, feeling, and being as we are. Quoting a fellow filmmaker, “you are not your diagnosis, you are the fight inside of you”. Thank you again to @aspect_aus and @focusonability for opening up the platform to us all. [Reposted because the original video had no sound!] #Disability #Autism #AutismAwareness

Yesterday my dear friend Ben Strum and I attended the Focus on Ability Film Festival — a brilliant initiative that showcases the stories of disability, as told by the disabled community itself. Our passion project about the bond between running and autism, ‘Where the World is Quiet’, was nominated in two categories. We were honoured to be included among so many trailblazing, inspiring artists. To win the Judges’ Choice Award for Best Documentary was a total shock. It made me reflect on my unconventional childhood, growing up clumsily in a neurotypical world, but anchored by my best friend and fellow autist Dom. Our survival as human beings — irrespective of background — is often a matter of simply finding our people. The human beings who see us for who we are without judgement or expectation. For me, @benstrum is another example. @wondiverse once told me that 32% of autistic people never make a friend outside of their family because of how difficult life can be for those of us who don’t conform to the majority. And, as recent global events illustrate, autism is still widely misunderstood, stigmatised, demonised and weaponised as a political football. Whilst the struggles faced by many autistic people and our families cannot be downplayed or ignored, it’s my hope that through broader representation and advocacy, we can move beyond the negative, restrictive stereotypes of autism and celebrate its uniqueness. Thank you to @focusonability for all that you do to amplify the lived experience of people with disability, and to @aspect_aus for helping to bring our vision to life.

Some cute snaps from Saturday’s screening at @dendy_newtown ! From Ben: “So special catching up with friends, fam and the @aspect_aus crew at our @sydfilmfest screening of Where the World is Quiet. Grateful for Grace, our neurokin, and everyone backing filmmakers with neurodivergence and disability.” From Grace: “While I grew up in a private world full of remarkable neurodivergent people like my lifelong best friend @dominicabela , even as a young child I was aware of the warped public perception of Autism. Labels like ‘superpower’ and ‘deficit’ placed it within a false binary of extremes. It was either a freakish blessing or a tragic curse. In reality, it’s neither. It’s a difference; a naturally occurring variation in the human genome. With a particular focus on running, the film @benstrum and I co-produced showcases autistic experiences with neutrality and empathy. It is a story about us, told by us, on our terms. Thanks again to the team that made it possible, and to everyone who came out to support 🎥✨”

TOMORROW! Join us at 3:30pm at The Dendy Cinema in Newtown for the final screening of ‘Where The World Is Quiet’. This short film Ben Strum and I co-produced explores the interconnected, brightly coloured worlds of Autism and running, through the lens of lived experience. It’s a labour of love. We’re so proud to have it selected as part of Sydney Film Festival’s Screenability strand for filmmakers with disability. Both Ben and I are autistic. Collaborating on the project bonded us deeply as artists, friends, and neurokin. A note from Ben: “I’m honoured that ‘Where the World is Quiet’ is screening in the Sydney Film Festival’s Screenability program, which champions filmmakers with disability. This film is a love letter to Grace, who introduced me to Autism, encouraged my own diagnosis, and showed me by example how to move through the world as a neurodivergent person.” There are less than 10 tickets left! It would be wonderful to see you there. Thank you to everyone who helped us bring our vision to life. 🫶🏼🎥✨ Principal Production Funding: @aspect_aus Executive Producers: @shaharburla @benstrum 
Director: Ben Strum Producers: Grace Tame & Ben Strum Assistant Director: @pmoranphotographer Director of Photography: @jesselame Camera First AC: @oscar.nastri Grip: Daniel Puodziunas Gaffer: @alexbrunton Drone Operator: Kyle Gardner Third Unit Camera Operator: Patrick Moran Sound Recordists: @tobi__armbruster & David Tottle Sound Designer:  @andrewcollierichards Music: @miles_horler Colour Studio: @wearecrayon Colourist: @danielstonehouse Title Design: @_rayphan

SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL 2025!!! We are thrilled to announce that ‘Where the World is Quiet’, a labour of love produced by @benstrum and I, has been officially selected for this year’s Sydney Film Festival @sydfilmfest . Our documentary short explores unique autistic strengths and sensory experiences through the lens of running. We hope it helps to broaden community understanding, and encourage more diverse representation of autism. It will be screened at the following times at Dendy Cinema in Newtown: Monday, 9 June — 3:45pm Saturday, 14 — 3:30pm Come join us! In the meantime, here’s the trailer. Thank you to everyone who has worked tirelessly to bring this into being. My neurodivergent spirit is swollen with pride. Special mention to @laurenebmc , @ameliaj94 , @mostafaazimitibar @meriem_runs and @plaschkep . This one is dedicated to my lifelong best friend @dominicabela , and all my neurokin. Principal Production Funding: @aspect_aus Executive Producers: @shaharburla @benstrum 
Director: Ben Strum Producers: Grace Tame & Ben Strum Assistant Director: @pmoranphotographer Director of Photography: @jesselame Camera First AC: @oscar.nastri Grip: Daniel Puodziunas Gaffer: @alexbrunton Drone Operator: Kyle Gardner Third Unit Camera Operator: Patrick Moran Sound Recordists: @tobi__armbruster & David Tottle Sound Designer: Andrew Richards @andrewcollierichards Music: Miles Horler @miles_horler Colour Studio: Crayon @wearecrayon Colourist: @danielstonehouse Title Design: @_rayphan

@aspect_aus asked my mate @tamepunk and me to collaborate on a short film about the intersection of athleticism and autism. Hopefully, Grace’s story reminds us that there’s much to learn about life from us autists: intrinsically earnest, playful people who work harder than most to manage sensory inputs and emotional regulation. Film frames by @jesselame

It’s with extreme pride and excitement that I can finally share this passion project about autistic strengths, written and directed by my friend Benjamin Strum, in collaboration with Aspect (@autismspectrumaustralia ). I met @benstrum a year ago. We bonded instantly over our uncannily similar interests, experiences, goals, beliefs and neurodivergent brains. When he asked if I would like to coproduce a film about the intersection of running and autism, I couldn’t say no. While I’m wary of labelling, I believe there’s a universal need for better, more inclusive representation of positive autistic experiences and autistic excellence to help dismantle lingering stigma and harmful stereotypes. More to the point, autism isn’t a label, limitation, choice, or condition. It’s a neurotype whose spectrum of cognitive and sensory processes differ from the majority. Autistics have the potential to teach the world many profound lessons about self-regulation and self-expression when we’re encouraged and supported to live on our own terms. Our often unfiltered communication, curvilinear thinking, abstract humour, instinctive sense of play, and uninhibited movement styles can inspire individual and community openness, and diffuse tension organically. Running is a particularly effective way for autistic and neurotypical people alike to regulate emotions, reduce stress, manage overstimulation, experience agency, build self-esteem, ground in nature, as well as socially and spiritually connect. Upon viewing the raw footage, I was moved to tears. For the first time in over three years of public life, I recognised myself on screen. This is a testament to Ben’s sensitivity, perspicuity and creative genius captured stunningly by Jesse Lane’s cinematography. It also demonstrably disproves the myth that autistics lack empathy. My hope is that this piece helps us all deepen our understanding of autism, each other and ourselves. Thank you also to my dear running companions @ameliaj94 and @meriem_runs for being by my side along the way. Big love, GT 🤍 📝: @benstrum 🎥: @jesselame 🎵: @miles_horler 💡: @alexbrunton 🎧: @andrewcollierichards 🎨: @wearecrayon 👟: @nike 🕶️: @goodr_anz

Professional plug: ‘Hitler’s Jewish Soldier?’ streaming via @sbsondemand , produced by @mintpicturesaus . A tale of war’s toll on children, and the conditions that create evil. 🕊️ Network: @sbs_australia Director / Producer / Writer: Dan Goldberg Post-producer / Writer: Jaya Balendra Co-producer / Co-writer / Graphics: Ben Strum Editor: Mark Middis DOP: @naffman Colourist: @welcome_to_peachy Sound Design: Greg Crittenden Assistant Producer: @forcecookies Production Coordinator: @pazfoxx Music: @thedasoffice

Inspirational quote. Snap by @naffman on location for @mintpicturesaus 🎬

Spirited away, not lost in translation.

Basic, black and white.